Debra is the tomboy of the show. Working in a male dominated field, she has to present herself as someone who can “keep up with the boys.” She swears frequently, drinks hard liquor, and smokes. While a very smart individual, Deb is presented as constantly being unsure of her abilities and second guessing herself. In Season One, she falls for the “Ice Truck Killer,” which places her as the damsel in distress. Her female intuition is fooled and she thinks with her heart rather than her brain. In the second season, she falls for Detective Frank Lundy and sleeps with him as they work the case. Here, she is honing in on her basic needs for sex and while she is falling in love with him, she is more cautious. She does not engage in PDA while at work and they keep their relationship under wraps for as long as possible. Fast forward to season three, we see Deb has cut off her long hair into a bob and has sworn of men, drinking, and smoking. She wants to finally obtain a detective shield to prove that she is a great officer and capable of handling herself. This season, she falls for an informant named Anton throughout her work on a case. She is scared for his involvement and he hers as the case progresses. Because Deb has relationships with various men through work, it is crucial to her to be judged on her work merit and not just as a stupid girl looking for a husband. She is immensely afraid of being reduced to “just a woman.” Deb is the typical rough and tough girl who has always been fighting for her chance to shine; from Dexter being favored in childhood to making a name for herself in the police department, Deb can be seen as working for equality for women in the workforce while navigating the difficulty of love and sex at the same time within the department.
Rita can very much been seen as the “Susie Homemaker” of the show. Blonde, slender, and tan she has two children from a previous marriage with an abusive husband, Paul. Evolving from Dexter's girlfriend to his fiancé to eventual wife, the viewer is able to see Rita's character change throughout the seasons. When originally presented, we see her as an abused woman looking for a way to start over. After finding Dexter and settling into the routine of a single, working mother, Rita begins to find her strength. In one episode, she beats Paul with a baseball bat when she feels threatened. The meek and shy Rita presented previously would never have done such a thing. It seems Dexter has affected her more than he knows. We also see her protecting her children, a very maternal reaction. No matter what the situation, her first priority is her children and we know that she would do anything for them. Dexter originally chooses her as a “cover girlfriend” (he needs one because he knows that is what is socially acceptable to fit-in) because “she is as damaged as he is.” As the show continues through the seasons, we find out more of her secrets (including that Dexter is her third marriage rather than her second as we previously thought), but Dexter allows her to keep her own secrets for he knows he has ones which he will never be able to share with her. Rita provides the compassion and love Dexter needs while at the same time being a strong enough woman to cope with the unexpected and hold her own at work in the hotel industry. The fact that she is a concierge/check-in assistant portrays her helpful nature and the idea that women provide for those in need.Both women are crucial to Dexter's well-being. The advice he is able to seek from both of them provide him with the insight he needs to function as a serial-killer attempting to live a mainstream lifestyle. Without them he would be unable to function in a healthy manner. Both portray different aspects of femininity but have similarities which provide over-arching themes of womanhood consistent with the times and needs of each woman.
Here are some interesting links that help further our understanding of Dexter's character and psyche.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
-- This one is the opening sequence on the show. I think it would be really helpful to have a blurb about how even everyday tasks like making breakfast and showering exemplify that he is a serial killer and has those dark tendencies lurking under the surface.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
-- This one talks about Harry's Code and how he taught Dexter from a young age that killing without motive is just murder. This can help paint Dexter as a "good-guy" in some sense and how there is planning behind his killing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
-- This one is just a funny Dexter/Doakes montage to show how very few catch on to the role he plays so well but Doakes does and he must investigate. It's hilarious. I think it'll provide some good comic relief.
-- Kate Mathews
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